Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-23


PROvIDE SCHOOL ROOM.
In the Senate yesterday afternoon, while the
District appropriation bill was under considera-
ton, when the section appropr1ating for public
schools was reached MI. Plumb referred to the re-
cent debate in the Senate on the lack OF school
room in the District explained the points brought
out in his recent interview In THE STAR in relation
to longevity pay for teachers and to cutting OF
three per cent of the teachers pay in order to
maintain that principle, and then he said:
"That question naturally came to the front some
what this year, not upon proposition to destroy
the high schools or to take away any facilities
which were afforded to high-school scholars, but
on proposition that, as we intended to maintain,
pensation established by the bill as it came from
the House, the new appointments to the force of
teachers provided for by the bill should be in the
lower grades, believing, as we do, that it is in
those grades that increased force and increased
efficiency are necessary, and that there has been
have had to do with the management OF Schools In
the District to give increased efficiency to high
school grades at the expense OF the lower grades.
1t did not enter into the mind OF any member OF
the committee. nor was it suggested by any one,
to take anything from the high schools. The
whole plan and purpose was to increase the school
facilities in the primary grade]and 1t was fully
competent to do this without taking anything
from the existing establishments. The
recomm s the approppTiation Of enough
money to make it perfectly sure that hereafter. Or
at all events within such limit of time as should
be necessary for the erection Of proper buildings
there should be no lack OF school room for every
scholar of school age in the District of Columbia
both in the high schools and in the primary
schools. may say In behalf OF the committee
that If the lack OF school accommodations had
been brought to the attention of the committee q
year ago or two years ago, as have no doubt they
should have been, the same adequate provision
would have been made in the appropriation bills
OF those years that has been made In the present
Unfortunately the schools have not apparently
received very much attention at the hands Of the
District Commissioners. A school board COM
posed of do not know how many persons nor
who has been chiefly in charge, perhaps without
power and responsibility, but at all events with
enough OF 1t to relieve the Commissioners from
any sense of responsibility on their own part. I
Judge, too, from some recently developed facts
that there has been too much tender soifctude for
the interests OF the saloons bawdy. houses, and
kindred establishments Of the District to leave
much time to look after those of the common
schools. Certain 1t Is that the schools have been
neglected, that thousands of children have been
practically denied admission to them and that the
upper grades have been promoted at the expense
OF the lower ones That vice and crime out of pro-
portion to the population should have enSued Is
not to be wondered at.
When we come to the item for the buildings for
schools 1t will be observed that the committee has
recommended the substitution of an entirely new
paragraph. In that paragraph provision Is made
for cash appropriation to erect an e1ght-room
school house. in addition to the school houses pro-
dttOn to that the Commissioners are authorized to
sell property belonging TO the District and not
needed for District purposes which is said to be OF
the value OF ObOut $4,000 and with this money
to erect new school houses With these new facil-
itieS large portion Of which will be available by
the beginning Of the fall term OF the schools in
september next there Will be added to the 1acili-
ties now existing In the District room for between
$500 and 5000 scholars, enough, as we believe, to
entirely I'LL the want now existing and to provide,
as ought to be provided everywhere, ample facil-
ties for every scholar OF school age.
do not make this statement SO far as am con-
cerned because OF any publications which have
been recently made In the newspapers concerning
the attitude Of myself or OF other members of the
subcommittee. Hearings before the subcommittee
have always been regarded and treated to be prac-
t1cally private. And so far as know the resulting
obligation has not heretofore been violated. The
incorrect statements which have been made, with
no doubt an Interior purpose, while serving the
purpose OF caution to the matter of confidence
hereafter, do not call for reply 1t is action formu-
lated In results which possess public interest," and
efforts at notOriety through controversy can prop
erly be permitted to fail Of their designed effect
however tempting the opportunity to puncture
them"